No bail for Burge-linked inmate pending retrial

June 08, 2009

A former Death Row inmate who was granted a new trial last month after a judge found it was likely his confession was coerced by detectives under the command of disgraced former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge will remain in Cook County Jail while the new trial is pending.

Circuit Judge Clayton J. Crane denied a request from attorneys for Victor Safforld--also known as Cortez Brown--after hearing a brief recitation of the evidence prosecutors say they have against Safforld.

Crane, who ordered the new trial in May, said that there was enough evidence to continue holding Safforld without bail.

Assistant Illinois Atty. Gen. Vincenzo Chimera told Crane that even without Safforld's confession, prosecutors have the testimony of two police officers who saw Safforld and a co-defendant fleeing the scene of the June 8, 1990, slaying of Curtis Sims in the 5300 block of South Bishop.

Chimera said the officers were unable to catch Safforld, but saw him carrying a large weapon as he fled. Later that same year, police officers conducting a separate investigation saw Safforld jump out of a second floor window as approached a residence in the 5900 block of South Union. Safforld escaped, but the officers found a .45 caliber Uzi submachine gun in the garage that was later linked to Sims' murder, he said.

Sim's sister was elated at the judge's decision to deny bail.

"Last time was disappointing," said Pat McMullan, referring to Crane's decision to grant a new trial. "But this time it's getting better."

McMullan said she still believes Safforld is responsible for her brother's death, calling him a "cold-hearted monster who doesn't deserve all the attention he's been getting."

Safforld was convicted of Sim's murder, and the murder of another man, Delvin Boelter, and was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison by former Gov. George Ryan.

He claimed he confessed to the murders only after detectives punched, slapped and hit him with a flashlight.

None of the detectives have been charged, but Burge, now retired in Florida, is awaiting trial in federal court in Chicago on criminal perjury charges.